Ormond soccer club coaching director fired after arrest

Jeffrey Allen is charged with battery causing bodily harm after police say he and his girlfriend fought over who would drive home from a bar. Allen also was found to have cocaine and subsequently charged with possession.

Published: Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 7:42 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 8:33 p.m.

The Ormond Beach Soccer Club's director of coaching has been fired following his recent arrest on charges of domestic battery and possession of cocaine, documents show.

The club's Board of Directors sent a letter to all soccer parents letting them know of Jeffrey Allen's termination and related changes that took effect on Thursday.

Allen is charged with battery causing bodily harm after police say he and his girlfriend fought over who would drive home from a bar since they had both been drinking, according to Ormond Beach police. Allen also was found to have cocaine and subsequently charged with possession.

In addition to firing Allen, the Board of Directors denied him access to the club's website and three accounts used by the club, according to the letter. The board also changed all the locks at the clubhouse, the soccer offices and the soccer storage areas at the Ormond Beach soccer complex.

"Our board changes from time to time, so we've done that in the past," club president Steve Haas said Saturday. "It's just procedural."

Haas also said background checks, performed by the state organization, are run on everyone each season. Allen has no prior arrests in Volusia County, records show.

Allen was notified of the changes Thursday, three days after his arrest.

Haas said Allen served as the director of coaching for about three and a half years.

He and his girlfriend Karyn Marlett had dinner and drinks at the Black Sheep Pub & Eating House in Ormond Beach, and Marlett decided to drive them home early Monday morning when Allen became intoxicated, according to a charging affidavit. Marlett told police that Allen became upset with her on the way home because she was driving.

The argument intensified, and Allen struck Marlett on the right side of her face, which is when she decided to pull over at a gas station, according to the affidavit. While in the Texaco parking lot, she told Allen to get out and she drove home.

After police tracked Allen down and took him into custody, a search yielded a small bag with less than a gram of a white powder substance that tested positive for cocaine, according to the affidavit. Allen told police the pants belonged to a roommate.

Allen's phone was not accepting calls Saturday afternoon.

Haas, who was elected club president last November, said he was "pretty caught off guard" and flummoxed by Allen's arrest.

He said the organization would meet over the next few weeks to work out a plan on handling the vacancy created by Allen's termination.

According to the letter from the Board of Directors, board members will contact competitive teams to see if they have any issues or concerns regarding the recent changes.

"We are just coming off the heels of one of the largest soccer tournaments in the history of our club with 77 teams and over 1,000 players," the letter states. "We are not going to let the poor decisions made by one person define who we are. There are too many talented players, coaches, parents and volunteers who have invested countless hours of their time to let this one incident define our club."

<p>The Ormond Beach Soccer Club's director of coaching has been fired following his recent arrest on charges of domestic battery and possession of cocaine, documents show. </p><p>The club's Board of Directors sent a letter to all soccer parents letting them know of Jeffrey Allen's termination and related changes that took effect on Thursday. </p><p>Allen is charged with battery causing bodily harm after police say he and his girlfriend fought over who would drive home from a bar since they had both been drinking, according to Ormond Beach police. Allen also was found to have cocaine and subsequently charged with possession. </p><p>In addition to firing Allen, the Board of Directors denied him access to the club's website and three accounts used by the club, according to the letter. The board also changed all the locks at the clubhouse, the soccer offices and the soccer storage areas at the Ormond Beach soccer complex. </p><p>"Our board changes from time to time, so we've done that in the past," club president Steve Haas said Saturday. "It's just procedural." </p><p>Haas also said background checks, performed by the state organization, are run on everyone each season. Allen has no prior arrests in Volusia County, records show. </p><p>Allen was notified of the changes Thursday, three days after his arrest. </p><p>Haas said Allen served as the director of coaching for about three and a half years. </p><p>He and his girlfriend Karyn Marlett had dinner and drinks at the Black Sheep Pub & Eating House in Ormond Beach, and Marlett decided to drive them home early Monday morning when Allen became intoxicated, according to a charging affidavit. Marlett told police that Allen became upset with her on the way home because she was driving. </p><p>The argument intensified, and Allen struck Marlett on the right side of her face, which is when she decided to pull over at a gas station, according to the affidavit. While in the Texaco parking lot, she told Allen to get out and she drove home. </p><p>After police tracked Allen down and took him into custody, a search yielded a small bag with less than a gram of a white powder substance that tested positive for cocaine, according to the affidavit. Allen told police the pants belonged to a roommate. </p><p>Allen's phone was not accepting calls Saturday afternoon. </p><p>Haas, who was elected club president last November, said he was "pretty caught off guard" and flummoxed by Allen's arrest. </p><p>He said the organization would meet over the next few weeks to work out a plan on handling the vacancy created by Allen's termination. </p><p>According to the letter from the Board of Directors, board members will contact competitive teams to see if they have any issues or concerns regarding the recent changes. </p><p>"We are just coming off the heels of one of the largest soccer tournaments in the history of our club with 77 teams and over 1,000 players," the letter states. "We are not going to let the poor decisions made by one person define who we are. There are too many talented players, coaches, parents and volunteers who have invested countless hours of their time to let this one incident define our club."</p>